Antifriction bearing



' Oct. 22, 1935. J, Ml RQSHONG 2,018,421

ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed May 5, 1954 j 3513 WM www PatentedI Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,018,421 f ANTlFarc'rroN BEARING Joseph M. Roshong, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Tyson Roller Bearing Corporation, Massillon, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application May 3, 1934, Serial No. '123,673 s claims. (c1. aos-214) The invention relates to anti-friction bearings, and more particularly to a closure or retaining ring construction for anti-friction bearings designed to hold the rotatable bearing members of abearing in assembled relation to one of the raceway members ,of the bearing.

The improved retaining ring construction is particularly adapted for use in connection with a tapered roller bearing of the type shown in the Tyson Patent No. 1,851,551; although it is to be understood that the retaining ring construction may be easily adapted for use in connection withl a cage type tapered roller bearing, a plain roller bearing, or a ball bearing.

A retaining ring has usually been assembled to an anti-friction bearing either in a removable or a permanent manner. The removable assembly of a retaining ring in an anti-friction bearing has heretofore usually been accomplished by using bolts, keys, or other locking devices; or by threading the retaining ring on one of the bearing raceway members; or by using a split retaining ring construction. e

However, it is not desirable to provide a removable retaining ring bearing construction because the user should be supplied with a bearing that is a fixed or permanently assembled unit; so that a user cannot take the bearing apart and improperly reassemble the same. Moreover, a bearing retaining ring is sometimes accidentally displaced or sometimes becomes accidentally disassembled, when a removable retaining ring bearing construction is being installed or mounted in its place of use.

Likewise, when a split retaining ring bearing construction is used. the ends of the split ring sometimes do not spring to an entirely closed position; and in such event, one or more of the rotatable members, which should be retained by the ring, may. fall or be taken out of assembled or retained position at the opening between the ends of the split ring,

These undesirable characteristics of a removable 'retaining lring bearing construction have' been overcome to some extent in prior practice by providing a permanently mounted retaining ring construction; as by riveting or welding a retaining ring to a bearing raceway member, or by permanently expanding, contracting, shrinking, swaging, or flowing the metal of a retain- -ing ring or a bearing raceway member to permanently connect a bearing retaining ring and a raceway member together. However, such par- -manently mounted retainingv ring bearing constructions involve very expensive assembly oper- 5 ations and are therefore objectionable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a retaining ring construction for anti-friction bearings which may be readily, easily and inexpensivelyv .assembled permanently l0 to a bearing raceway member.

These and other objects may be obtained by the anti-friction bearing construction, preferred embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawing, and are hereinafter described l5 in detail and claimed, which may be stated in general terms as including in a bearing having inner and outer raceway members and rotatable f members rolling on and between the raceway members, a continuousv spring metal retaining 20 ring having a notched annular portion interlocked and interconnected to one of the bearing raceway members.

In the drawing, f

Figure Lis a plan view'of a tapered roller bear- 25 ing. embodying the improved retaining ring construction;

Fig. 2 isa transverse section through the bearing shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a pre- 3o ierred way of assembling the improved retaining ring to the bearing;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of 35 the improved retaining ring shown in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section of the improved retaining ring; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a slightly modified form of improved retaining ring.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The improved retaining -ring construction is shown and described herein in connection with a tapered roller bearing generally indicated at 8 45 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which may include generally a cone 9, a cup l0 and rollers Il rolling on and between the raceway surfaces I2 and I3, respectively, of the cup and cone. The cup and cone fire illustrative of inner and outer raceway memeach of the rollers II abut. In order to properly retain the rollers assembled on the cone when the cup is not in position, the larger end 'of each roller is preferably provided/with a pintle Il which runs in the annular groove I6l formed in the thrust flange I4; and thesmaller end of each tapered roller II is likewise provided with a plntle I1 which is received Ywithin theV annular groove I9 formed in the improved retaining' ring-generally indicated at I9.

The retaining ring I 9, 'as best shownin Fig. 6,

is a continuous ring made of springl metal and is provided with ari/inner annular, preferably cylindrical, shoulder 29 extending inV an L-shaped manner from the main ring portion 2| of the retaining ring I9. ,The main ring portion 2I preferably terminates outwardly in 'a turnedor 'curled outervedge 22 which forms with the portion 2| and shoulder 29 the groove I9 in which the pintles II of the rollers Il are received.

The retaining ring shoulder 29 preferably terl minates in an annular, preferably radial flange or inner edge 23 whichprojects inward from the shoulder.

As shown in the drawing, the retaining ring I9 is provided with a plurality of notches 24 which extend preferably radially of the ring through the inturned flange or edge v23,' and the cylindrical L`shoulder 29, into the main ring portion 2| of andthe tongues 29 may be sprung slightly when assembling the retaining ring upon and permanently securing the same to the cone 9 of the tapered roller bearing 9. This assembling may be accomplished by slipping the retaining ring over a tapered assembly plug 26, as shown in. Fig. 3, and by then pushing the retaining ring downward by a tubular ram or plunger 21 so that the inner edge flanges 29 of each of the tongues 25 spring outwardly and pass over the end portion 29 of the small end of the cone 9, when the edge flanges spring into and Abecome interlocked with the annular groove 29 provided in the outer surface of the cone or inner raceway member adjacent to and spaced from the small end thereof.

The groove 2,9, as best shown in Fig. 4, is preferably rectangular or squared in cross section so that the rectangular or squared-inner edge'flange 29 of each tongue 2l of the retaining ring is securely seated and linterlocked therein with the cylindrical L-shoulder 29 seated on the peripheral end portion 29 of the cone or inner raceway member 9 and with the outer surface of the main ring portion 2| substantially ush with the end of the cone or inner raceway member 9, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

After the improved retaining ring I9 has once been assembled on the cone 9 and interlocked therewith, the same cannot be removed in any manner excepting by a complete severing of the ring with a hack saw, chisel or the like; thus providing a permanent assembly of the cone 9, the rollers II and the retaining ring I9.

The slots or notches 24 must extend entirely throughthe L-shoulder oi' the retaining ring in order to give suillcient resilience to thetongues 5 29 formed thereby, that the retaining ring may be resiliently expanded for assembling it on the innerraceway member 9 of the anti-'friction bearing 9. Moreover, the radial depth of each of the notches 24 may extend any desired distance into 10 .the main ring portion 2| of the ring I9 depending upon the particular size, design-and stylejof the bearing of which it forms a part.

Moreover, the provision of the notches 24 which communicate with the groove I9, provide l5 passageways for the circulation of lubricant when the bearing is in operation.

It is not intended'to limit the scope of the present invention to the particular width-or number of notches 24 which are provided in the retaining 20 ring, because the number vof notches may be increased or decreased from vthose shown in Figs.

1 to 6, inclusive; and the widthof the notches may be increased to form a generally zigzag or toothed inner periphery for the retaining ring as best 2c shown in Fig. 7, wherein very wide notches 24a are provided.

.'Ihe improved construction thus provides a retaining ring for antif-friction bearings which may be readily, easily, and inexpensively made and 30 assembled permanently to a bearing raceway member; thus incorporating the ease of assembly ofl a removable retaining ring construction and the desirable characteristics of a permanently mounted retaining ring. while at the same time avoiding the undesirable characteristics of prior .removable and permanently mounted retaining ring constructions.

I claim 1. In a tapered roller bearing having inner and 4o outer raceway members and rollers rolling on and between said raceway members, an annular groove provided in the outer surface of the inner raceway member adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, 4a. continuous vspring metal retaining ring 4'5 having an inner cylindrical shoulder and an annular flange projecting. radially inwardly from the shoulder, the shoulder and flange being provided with a series of notches, and the notched flange being resiliently sprung into and interlocked in l said groove.

2. In a tapered roller bearing having inner and outer raceway members and rollers rolling on and between said raceway members, an annular groove provided in the outer periphery of 65 the inner raceway member adjacent to and lspaced from one end thereof, a continuous spring metal retaining ring having an inner cylindrical shoulder and a radial-flange projecting inward from the shoulder, the shoulder and flange being provided with a series of radial notches, the notched flange being resiliently sprung into and interlocked in said groove, and the outer end face of said ring when interlocked being substantially ilush withsaid end of the inner raceway member. 3. In a`tapered roller bearing having inner and outer raceway members and rollers provided with end pintles rolling on and between the raceway members, an annular groove provided in the outer surface of the inner raceway member adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, a continuous spring metal retaining ring having an annular groove in one surface receiving the pintles of one end of each of the rollers and having an inner cylindrical shoulder and an annular ilange projecting radially inwardly from the shoulder, the shoulder and flange being provided with a series of notches, said notches extending to and communicating with said ring groove, and thel notched flange being resilientiy sprungy into and interlocked in the raceway groove.

4. A retaining ring for an anti-friction bearing including an annular groove in one surface for receiving rotatable bearing members, a bore including a cylindrical shoulder and an annular flange projecting radially Ainwardly from the shoulder, the shoulder and ange being provided with aseries of notches communicating with the groove, and the notched ilangebeing adapted to be resiliently sprung'for interlocking the same with a bearing raceway member.y

5. In an anti-friction' bearing having inner and outer racewaymernbers androtatable members rolling on and between vtheraceway members, anI-[annular groove provided'inv the outer surface of -the inner Vracewaymember adjacent to and spaced from one ,end thereof, a continuous retaining ring having a notched annular edge. the notched edge of the retaining ring being resiliently sprung into and interlocked in said groove, and the outer end face of said ring when interlocked being substantially flush with said end of the inner raceway member.

6. In an anti-friction bearing having inner and outer raceway members and rotatable members rolling on and between the raceway members, a squared annular groove provided in the outer surface of the inner raceway member adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, a continuous retaining ring having a notched squared inner annular edge, the notched squared edge of the retaining ring being resiliently sprung into and interlocked in said squared groove, and the outer endy face of said ring when interlocked being substantially flush with said end of the inner raceway member.

JOSEPH M. ROSHONG. 

